Outside hitter Ben Pearson celebrates after a point

No. 9 UC Santa Barbara beat No. 11 UC San Diego in a 3-2 match Saturday, April 10, in La Jolla. This secured the Gauchos No. 4 seed in the 2026 Outrigger Big West Men’s Volleyball Championship at UC Irvine, April 23-25. 

The Gauchos now hold two victories over the Tritons this season, following their 3-2 victory in March. 

This victory was a comeback for the Gauchos, who lost two straight matches against California State University, Long Beach earlier this month. 

The Tritons dominated the first set, quickly defeating the Gauchos. During this set, the Tritons went on a 7-point run beginning at 7-12 and ending with a service error at 8-18. Afterwards, the Gauchos were able to trade points with the Tritons, but lost the set at 12-25. 

The second set featured a Gaucho comeback. Trading side-outs throughout the set, the Gauchos faced a near-second-set loss at 23-24. They rallied through with a kill by sophomore outside hitter Riggs Guy, who tied the set at 24-24. Consistently one point behind the Tritons until the score reached 29-29, the Gauchos narrowly claimed the set at 31-29. 

Tied 1-1 after a heated second set, the third featured another Gaucho victory. The set was close until 16-16, when the Gauchos jumped ahead. Making nine of the next 11 points, sophomore outside hitter George Bruening finished the set with a service ace at 25-18. Remarkably, Bruening, Guy, junior middle blocker Josh Aruya and sophomore outside hitter Ethan Saint each contributed 3 kills. 

The fourth set began with a Triton 7-0 scoring run, where they led 7-2. A 6-point streak allowed the Gauchos to climb back from 17-22, eventually tying the game at 22-22, 23-23 and 24-24. Down to the wire, the Tritons eventually closed the set. Service and attack errors by the Gauchos led the Tritons to close the set 26-24.

With the match tied 2-2, the Gauchos and Tritons headed into their fifth and final set of the night. Exchanging points until 4-4, the Gauchos pulled ahead with 5 straight points, leading 8-4 with help from Guy’s efficient serving and a kill by Saint. Staying on top, the Gauchos swiftly defeated the Tritons 15-9.

Bruening led the match with 16 kills, Saint with 15 and Guy with14. Notably, Guy had a match season high with 4 aces. His career high is 5 aces, which was also against the Tritons earlier this season. Additionally, junior setter Cole Schobel led with 10 digs. 

With the No. seed clinched, the Gauchos will face the Tritons once again at 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, in Irvine’s Bren Events Center.